Lyon does not let go of its dream of hanging on to Europe through the Coupe de France. Often tossed around by sharper Lille, the Lyonnais ended up winning on penalties 2-2 (4-2). OL had however done everything well not to tremble. He led 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. First a nice number in the surface of Rayan Cherki even if Lille claimed a foul from Lacazette before (1-0, 5th). But the latter then proved decisive by doubling the bet taking advantage of a very poor full-axis northern recovery (2-0, 20th).
But Lyon wouldn’t be Lyon if they weren’t unable to hold an advantage. A few minutes later, Malo Gusto, who will then injure his hamstrings and leave the field, commits a fault in the area. And Jonathan Davies transforms the penalty without shaking (2-1, 28th). After the break, the Lille, more players and more indecisive, end up equalizing logically by Zhegrova well served by Cabella (2-2, 64th). Lyon withered over the minutes and clearly played the clock and shots on goal. Too clumsy, Paulo Fonseca’s men allow them to reach the session. And it is once again Anthony Lopes who is decisive in front of Mohamed Bayo, who must have remembered having already missed a penalty before on this same lawn when he was wearing the Clermont jersey. “We are in difficulty in the league (9th) and the best way to play in Europe is through the Cup”, savors the Lyon goalkeeper a few minutes after qualification.
Rodez finds the quarter-finals fourteen years later
Another team got scared. The Cup holder, Nantes, also won on penalties on the lawn of Angers. Led from the start by Angevins in distress in the league, the players of Kombouaré dominated almost the entire meeting but only equalized three minutes from the end of a strike from their new recruit Florent Mollet. Then more skilful in shots on goal, they won the right to continue their journey.
Toulouse was much less scared against Rémois yet full of confidence. More realistic, the Violets won 3-1. Vierzon, the last amateur club still in contention, stops at the foot of the quarter-finals. The residents of N2 were beaten at home by Grenoble (L2). But at the end of a good performance which will sharpen the regrets in the Cher (0-1). However, it took a feat to respect the tradition. And it was Rodez (L2) who succeeded by winning on the lawn of Abbé-Deschamps against Auxerre (2-3). The Ruthénois, valiant and opportunistic, were able to perform well in their highlights and opened the scoring from the start of the match. This is the third time in its history that Rodez has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. The last time the little red and yellow club had reached them was fourteen years ago.